Sierra Nevada Ally

On this edition of Ally Audio, Noah is taking a look into some leadership changes in Reno, including some top law enforcement and education roles, before exploring some water negotiations. Then, contributor Richard Bednarski joins the show. He is finalizing a documentary film looking at Reno’s biking infrastructure and its Biggest Little Bike Network project. Note: At about 15:50 Noah's micro...

On this this episode of Ally Audio, we're focusing on spring travel and adventure as we all start spending a bit more time outdoors. Noah has a conversation with our Tahoe correspondent and contributor Kayla Anderson, who just published a new guide book to California’s state parks. Book link: https://www.moontravelguides.com/titles/jenna-blough/moon-best-of-california-state-parks/979888647165...

On this episode of Ally Audio, Multimedia Director Alex Couraud chats with the Ally's reporter and Managing Editor Hannah Truby about the first story in her ongoing series, Who Controls the West? The series examines the people, companies and organizations that make decisions over how land and resources are used across the American West. Have ideas for the series? Email editor@sierranevadaally...

On this episode of Ally Audio, Multimedia Director Alex Couruad steps into the hosting chair to talk about a few updates on energy and climate policy in Nevada, as well as how federal actions are impacting life here. Then, Managing Editor Hannah Truby joins the show to talk about covering the latest No Kings rally in Reno, part of the largest single-day demonstration in American history. Story lin...

On this episode of Ally Audio, Noah talks about the latest on data centers in the region and some drama around the library board. Then, he adds context around last weekend’s No Kings rallies, and what getting to 3.5% participation would mean for the movement. To wrap up, Noah was recently interviewed on the Small Press, Big Ideas podcast where he got to talk about the future of journalism and how...

On this episode of Ally Audio, Scott King is back in the co-host chair, joining Noah to talk the latest on the Washoe County School District Superintendent change, some updates from Lake Tahoe and an opportunity for the mining town of Tonopah. Then, the guys talk about the potential for drought and wildfire this season, before jumping into another round of Grocery Price Tracker. Story links and so...

On this episode of Ally Audio, Multimedia Director Alex Couraud steps into the host chair to talk with long-time contributor Claire Carlson about what it's like on the ground in Minneapolis, and what the occupation of federal agents in the area can teach us about Nevada. Claire moved to Minneapolis a month before ICE agents stormed the city as part of Operation Metro Surge. Stories / Sources:...

On this edition of the show, we’re getting into some of the latest news headlines from around the region, including who has declared their intention to run for public office, ahead of Friday’s deadline for non-judicial races. Then, we’ll have a conversation with our Tahoe Contributor, Kayla Anderson about the community reaction in Truckee following the tragic avalanche that killed nine people in t...

The Sierra Nevada Ally is working on a mini-documentary project about the Biggest Little Bike Network , with the first part expected to be published in the spring. Our contributor and documentary filmmaker Richard Bednarski was recently interviewed by Ky Plaskon, the President of the Truckee Meadows Bicycle Alliance and host of the weekly show Bike Life , which airs on KWNK Community Radio, 97.7 F...

On this episode of Ally Audio, Noah is joined by the Ally's managing editor Hannah Truby to talk about Measure G, a local ballot measure in Truckee that was overwhelmingly passed by residents to build a new library. Not everyone is on board with the idea, and it leaves us wondering: what is the role of modern libraries and what does their future look like? Story links and sources: https://the...

With the recent walkout by students across our region and the nation, we thought it'd be a good time to take a look at some of the more prominent youth movements throughout the country's history. The Ally's Managing Editor Hannah Truby joins the show to talk about five big movements led by young people. That and some local news headlines on this episode of Ally Audio. Stories discus...

On this Ally Audio, Noah is joined by Multimedia Director and reporter Alex Couraud to talk immigration. For essentially the entire existence of America, immigration has been complicated, restrictive and exclusive. So, how does it work and what should we all know about it? Story links from this episode: https://sierranevadaally.org/2026/01/06/the-realities-of-our-rapidly-changing-immigration-lands...

In December, a group of Starbucks employees in Northern Nevada decided to join a national strike against the coffee giant, demanding higher wages, amid rising cost of living. We recently reported on the person who helped lead the strike at Reno's only unionized Starbucks location. On today's show, we hear from Lynn Lazaro who shared that story, and get into some recent news headlines fro...

As of Jan. 7, Sierra snow pack is at 91% of normal for this time of year , buoyed by more than usual snow in the Southern Sierra. For the Tahoe area, mountain snow pack is slightly lower, 89% of the normal amount by this date. The mountains are seeing precipitation, but with warmer temperatures, it's falling as rain.  What does the late, and warmer, start to the snow season mean for the regio...

Together one more time in 2025, the Ally team takes a final look back at some of our favorite stories from the past year in this special episode of Ally Audio. We talk about our grocery price tracker, and coverage of the impact of USAID cuts at home, what environmental agency cuts could look like, and water releases in California earlier this year. This work is only possible thanks to your financi...

As we continue wrapping up another successful year at the Sierra Nevada Ally, the team gets together to chat about some of our favorite stories in this special episode of Ally Audio. This time, we talk about our reporting on vulnerable residents, including rural, immigrant, and religious communities. This show is made possible by Press Forward , a national coalition investing more than $500 millio...

This essay was originally published in Orion , a magazine on nature and culture, and a portion of that is being republished here with the author's permission.  Read the entire essay at Orion Magazine's website . This show is made possible by Press Forward , a national coalition investing more than $500 million to strengthen local newsrooms and close longstanding gaps in journalism covera...

In this special episode of Ally Audio, the team gets together to talk about some of our favorite stories from the past year. We talk solitary confinement, the Nevada Black Legislative Caucus, data centers, and a rejection of a proposal from elementary school students in Truckee. This show is made possible by Press Forward , a national coalition investing more than $500 million to strengthen local...

On this week’s show, Noah and Scott are back talking about the latest on the John Doe case surrounding an unnamed individual who paid to track Reno Mayor Hillary Schieve, and preview an upcoming story looking at a flood mitigation project in Reno. Then they dive more into the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, which has recently made some recommended changes around vaccines that have be...

On this week's Ally Audio, Noah and Scott talk about how Nevada agencies are recovering after a recent cyberattack, and who has announced a run for local or statewide office, before getting into how the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices is causing uncertainty around vaccine recommendations and availability. This show is made possible by Press Forward , a national coalition investin...

On this week's Ally Audio, Noah and Scott talk about the recent settlement between a mining company and a Nevada rancher, before getting into how Nevada water systems are looking after another summer. And the guys ponder what they might name their hot air balloon if they were to pilot one. This show is made possible by Press Forward , a national coalition investing more than $500 million to s...

Hear two poems from Dani Putney, who is performing at this weekend's Nevada Humanities Literary Crawl. This show is made possible by Press Forward , a national coalition investing more than $500 million to strengthen local newsrooms and close longstanding gaps in journalism coverage. And from our readers and listeners at sierranevadaally.org. Music for the show comes from local band, People w...

On this week’s show, Noah and Multimedia Manager Alex Couraud get into some of the latest news around the ransomware attack against the state of Nevada, and provide some updates about forest lands and the Colorado River. Then reporter and Managing Editor Hannah Truby joins the show to talk all about our her new series looking at the impact of solitary confinement in Nevada and beyond. This show is...

On this week’s show, Scott and Noah talk about Nevada's status as a “sanctuary state” and the latest water updates from the Colorado River. Then, we get into the details around the ongoing threats of mid-decade redistricting happening in California, following similar moves in Texas. This show is made possible by Press Forward , a national coalition investing more than $500 million to strength...

On this week’s show, Hannah Truby jumps into the co-chair. Noah and Hannah talk about efforts to save Mono Lake, and recent unionization successes in southern Nevada. Then, we talk about the use and history of the Freedom of Information Act, before welcoming the Ally's summer intern, Daisy Gomez onto the show. This show is made possible by Press Forward , a national coalition investing more t...